APPRENTICE INSTRUCTOR

Katie is working toward completing her comprehensive pilates instructor certification and is joining the Purposeful Pilates team as an Apprentice Instructor. 

She started taking mat pilates nearly 20 years ago with her mom at the local community center. However, it wasn't until 2018 that she discovered reformer pilates. It was a game-changer for her. That’s because Katie suffered from chronic pain in her jaw for almost two decades that was brought on by stress. She perpetually clinched her jaw, which resulted in a vicious cycle of pain, headaches, fatigue and brain fog. She was eventually diagnosed with Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) and had five surgeries on her jaw to eliminate joint inflammation and improve its mobility. Unfortunately, the surgeries didn’t work. It was her pilates practice that ended up bringing her relief from her jaw pain. 

Pilates helped Katie build a stronger core and neck, while also improving her alignment. This helped reduce stress on the temporomandibular joint in her jaw. In addition, she discovered the power of the mind-body connection through her pilates practice, which helped improve her overall body awareness and made it easier for her to recognize when she was clinching her jaw. She also learned proper breathing techniques through her pilates practice that helped her relax and reduce tension in her jaw. 

Katie also attributes her pilates practice to helping her recover from Long COVID. She did pilates for many months while she battled Long COVID symptoms. Pilates helped her manage the inflammation, brain fog and stomach issues brought on by the virus. Her doctors encouraged her to keep doing pilates because of the positive impact it had during her battle with Long COVID. 

Katie recognized the power of pilates in helping her address her health issues and she decided she wanted to help others. She left her corporate job in an international management consulting firm to pursue her comprehensive pilates certification. Katie is excited to introduce the life-changing benefits of pilates to others!